Michigan Collision Auto Insurance: How to Drive in Low Visibility Conditions

Conditions such as fog, heavy weather, and even a bright sun, can cause low visibility driving conditions in Michigan. It’s important to know how to drive safely in these conditions, and you will avoid collisions and expensive car insurance claims.

At Agency Advantage Insurance, we want West Bloomfield, MI residents to be safe in all driving conditions. Follow these simple safety tips when driving in low visibility conditions.

Maintain for Visibility

In Michigan, you are going to have low visibility conditions all year long. Maintain your vehicle regularly so that it can accommodate these conditions. Maintain it before you drive as well.

Be sure that your wipers are good and working. Have your heating and defrost systems checked so that you can defrost front and rear windows effectively when driving. If you have fog lights, have them checked.

Clear your windshield and all windows before you leave the driveway or parking lot. Make sure that the roof of your vehicle is clear of all-weather or debris so that falling snow or ice does not impede your visibility on the roads.

Driving Tips

When you are driving in low visibility, follow your instinct.

•    Drive slowly at all times in low visibility
•    Brake slowly, or avoid braking at all. Braking in ice and snow leads to fishtailing and skids that cause collisions.
•    High beams aren’t as effective as fog lights in low visibility unless you are driving at night.
•    Pay attention and listen to other drivers in the event you can’t see them.
•    Get roadside assistance.

Drive Safely

When you have to drive in low visibility in Michigan, be alert, and make sure your vehicle is safe before you drive. That is half the battle. Take your time to avoid collisions. 

Have peace of mind before you go with add-ons to your insurance such as Roadside Assistance. You’ll be more confident on the roads, and that confidence breeds safety. At Agency Advantage Insurance, we prefer West Bloomfield, MI residents to stay home in poor conditions, but we know life and duty calls. Call us for a quote today.

6 Reasons you need umbrella insurance right now

Umbrella insurance is an optional supplemental insurance policy that fills the gap not covered by your home and auto liability insurance. Here are six reasons why you need umbrella insurance now:

You have a teenage driver

Young and inexperienced drivers who are new to the road increase the likelihood of being involved in a car accident. Umbrella insurance will pay over and above your policy’s liability limits if your teenage child is involved in a car accident and damages their vehicle or injures another person.

You have a swimming pool

Homeowners can be sued if another person is injured on their property. This risk is greatly increased if there is a swimming pool on the property, which can lead to a fall or a head or neck injury.

You have a long commute

Long commutes and heavy traffic can be dangerous. Car accidents can result in serious injury or even death. Drivers, their passengers, their estates, or their families may sue for lost earnings, past, and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and earning capacity.

You own a dog

If your dog bites another person or causes injury to someone else, whether on your property or off, you are held liable. This is where umbrella coverage can fill the gap between what your homeowners’ liability will cover and what you are being sued for.

Make sure though that there is no clause that states canine liability exclusion. 

You enjoy partying

Being a good host is all good and well until someone is injured on your property. Umbrella coverage can help fill the gap in your homeowners’ liability coverage. 

You own a trampoline

If you have kids and you own a trampoline, then there’s a possibility your children may invite their friends over to join in the fun. You will be held liable if someone is injured on your property and umbrella insurance can help.

Speak to an expert at Agency Advantage Insurance serving West Bloomfield, MI today to see what insurance policy is best suited for you and your family.

Michigan Home Insurance Explained for First Time Homeowners

When you are a first-time homeowner, all the legalese, paperwork, and insurance matters can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be.

At Agency Advantage Insurance, we want first-time homebuyers in West Bloomfield, MI to be excited about this next chapter. We can help you with some of that, by guiding you through the very simple process of Michigan home insurance.

How Much Michigan Home Insurance Do You Need?

In Michigan, home insurance is not required by federal or state regulations. Your bank or mortgage lender may require it.

You will be required to purchase liability coverage, in the event that something happens on your property. Building and property coverage will also likely be required, but every lender will be different.

In addition, you can add more coverage than the minimums that your lender requires. You might want special valuables coverage, flood insurance, and other protections for your home.

Types of Home Insurance Coverages

You can cover your home for almost anything that is in it or around it.

• Building coverage: This coverage will protect your home if there is damage sustained due to weather or perils specified in your policy.

• Property coverage: Covers the contents of your home and any outbuildings on it. 

• Liabilities coverage: If an accident occurs on your property, or you are sued, your liabilities coverages will cover your legal costs and/or settlements.

These are just a few of the coverages that you can get with Michigan home insurance. Talk to a broker today to find out how much coverage you can get.

Get a Quote

At Agency Advantage Insurance, we know that when you are a homeowner in West Bloomfield, MI the first time, you will need home insurance that protects the dreams you’ve worked so hard for. Call us for a quote today.

Questions to Ask an Agent When Purchasing Classic Car Insurance

Classic car insurance is the type of insurance that provides coverage options tailored to the needs of classic vehicle owners. Shopping for classic car insurance may be more complicated than buying a standard auto insurance policy for your car. If you are currently looking for a classic car insurance policy but cannot make an informed decision, Agency Advantage Insurance serving clients in West Bloomfield, MI prepared a list of questions you should ask an insurance agent: 

What Should You Ask an Insurance Agent?

The answers to the following questions will help you determine which policy will be perfect for you:

How Many Years of Experience Are Drivers Required to Have

Some classic car insurance policies require drivers to have at least a few years of driving experience. Even if you are an experienced driver, and you have spent years behind the wheel, you still should ask this question. The answer to this question will help you understand who you can let drive your precious classic car. 

Is Appreciation Covered By The Policy?

Usually, standard auto insurance policies do not cover appreciation because cars do not appreciate – they depreciate instead. However, classic cars are different, and most classic car insurance policies will provide at least some coverage for appreciation. 

Will Coverage Be Active While a Classic Car Is Being Restored?

You need to make sure that your policy will provide coverage while your classic vehicle is being restored. You also need to find out whether your policy provides coverage where the restoration process is being done. Thus, you need to confirm that it will be covered regardless of the location of your vehicle. 

Agency Advantage Insurance – We Help You Find a Policy You Need and Deserve

If you are a classic car owner from West Bloomfield, MI or any other nearby area, and you are looking for an insurance agent to purchase an insurance policy for your precious vehicle, Agency Advantage Insurance is exactly what you need. Our mission is to help our clients find their perfect policy based on their preferences and personal situation. You can always check our website for more information or give us a call. 

Types of Motorcycle Insurance Coverages

A motorcycle can be a convenient means of transport in West Bloomfield, MI. You can quickly get around, running your errands efficiently while enjoying pleasant weather. However, to secure that investment, you should consider insuring it. And as Agency Advantage Insurance explains, here are a few coverages you can opt for when you decide to insure your motorcycle.

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

It helps cover things like lost wages and medical expenses arising from the injury or death of another driver in an accident where you were at fault. However, if you get injured, bodily injury liability does not cover your medical bills, and so you should get a different policy for that.

Property Damage Liability Coverage

You may get into an accident where you are at fault and end up damaging someone else’s property, including a car, home, fence, or any other object. With this type of coverage, the repair costs are covered, and you do not have to go back to your pocket to cover those expenses. Note that this coverage will also not cover repairs to your bike.

Medical Payment Coverage

Medical payment coverage helps cover the necessary medical costs resulting from an accident in your motorcycle. Those medical costs covered can be for both you and your passengers.

Collision Coverage

It provides cover for your bicycle when it gets damaged in a collision, whether with another bike, a car, a tree, or a building.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage comes in handy when your motorcycle gets damaged by any accident that is not a result of a collision. Therefore, damage caused by things like theft, wind, vandalism, and flooding is covered under this policy.

If you are having trouble deciding which coverage is necessary for you, contact us at Agency Advantage Insurance for assistance. Our team of experts in West Bloomfield, MI will see to it that you get the protection you need.

Who will need to have umbrella insurance in Michigan?

The risk of liability is something that all people in the West Bloomfield, MI area need to take seriously. Most people will need to continue to carry some forms of insurance coverage, including home or auto coverage, which will provide liability coverage. However, having the additional coverage provided with umbrella insurance is always helpful. There are multiple examples of why having this form of coverage will be helpful for someone in this area of the state. 

Coverage Provides Additional Coverage

A key benefit of having an umbrella coverage plan is that it will give you additional liability insurance coverage. Most people that are in this area of Michigan are going to have some liability support in their home or auto insurance plans. While this is often more than enough, there are policy limits to consider. If there is an accident that results in excessive damages, you may be responsible for damages that exceed your plan. With an umbrella policy, policyholders will receive coverage on top of those policies.

Coverage for More Risks

You may also want to have an umbrella coverage plan as it will give coverage for far more risks. Any standard home or auto insurance plan will give coverage for some situations, but there are many liability risks that are not protected by the existing plans. If you get an umbrella policy, you will receive more blanket coverage that will protect against other situations not covered in your existing plans. 

There are a lot of advantages that come with having umbrella insurance in the West Bloomfield, MI area. If you are in need of coverage here, speaking with the Agency Advantage Insurance team is a great option. Agency Advantage Insurance knows the importance of umbrella coverage and will help you choose a plan that offers the right protection. 

Choosing The Best Health Insurance For Your Family

Keeping your family’s health on track involves a lot of different things. You want to make sure they are eating well, getting plenty of exercises, and getting the necessary medical treatment they need when they need it. This is where health insurance comes in. Having a reliable health insurance plan in place will help you provide medical services for your family when they need them. At Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI, we make it our top priority to help families like you find the best insurance products. Keep reading to learn more about choosing health insurance for your family. 

Consider Your Budget

Health insurance plans come in many different types of packages. This means that they cost differently too. When you sit down with an insurance representative, they will be able to help you choose a plan that can accommodate your budget. 

Consider Your Family’s Health

One of the reasons that health insurance plans come in many different types of packages, is so that families can get the services they need and not worry about paying for services they do not need. If your family does not have serious medical issues, you can choose a basic plan that focuses on health maintenance. If your family does face many medical issues, you will want a comprehensive plan that will provide all of the services you need. 

Consider Timing

Health insurance companies require that you enroll in a new health insurance plan during open enrollment. It is important that you know when these dates are so that you can keep sufficient health insurance for your family. 

If you would like to know more about our services, please contact us at Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI. 

Does My Auto Insurance Cover Rental Cars?

Before you drive off in your rental car, many car rental companies will ask you if you’d like to purchase insurance for it as well. And, like most drivers, you’re likely to agree by instinct. You know- just in case something happens.

However, if you already have insurance for your car, the policy may extend to your rental cars as well. If this is the case, you’ll be saved from buying extra insurance, which could raise your rental fees as high as twice. Here’s how to find out if your car insurance policy covers rental cars in West Bloomfield, MI. 

What Does the Typical Rental Car Insurance Policy Cover?

Many car rental companies offer a few common coverages. One of these is liability insurance, which covers you against claims should you injure other people or damage any property. Personal effects insurance is another; this policy covers the personal belongings you have in the rental car, making you liable for compensation against loss or any damage done to them in the event of an accident. 

Rental car insurance policies also offer personal accident insurance, which provides compensation for disability, loss of life, and temporary loss of income due to accidents.

What Coverages Do Regular Auto Insurance Policies Offer?

Agency Advantage Insurance and other car insurance companies generally offer property damage insurance, collision damage insurance, personal injury protection, and liability insurance. Before signing off on rental car insurance, it’s important to review your existing policies to make sure you’re not paying for something you already have insurance for. 

A good auto insurance policy will save you a lot of problems in the event you have an accident or lose your vehicle. Getting a comprehensive cover from Agency Advantage Insurance will also ensure you don’t have to buy rental car insurance whenever you’re renting out a car in West Bloomfield, MI. 

Our website lists the different policies and coverages we offer. If you’re looking for an affordable and reliable insurance partner, we’ve got you covered.

Deciding Which of the Home Insurance Policy is Best for You

A home is arguably the biggest investment that most people make in their lifetime. That underscores the importance of a house in the contemporary world and why it needs to be jealously protected.

One of the best ways of making sure that your investment is safe is by purchasing home insurance. Various homeowner’s policies will cover your structure, personal belongings, liability claims, and medical payments, among others.

If you’re a homeowner in West Bloomfield, MI, Agency Advantage Insurance has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home insurance coverage for your home.

What is Homeowners Insurance

This coverage protects your home if an event under your policy causes damages to your home structure or personal belongings. You also get protection against injuries that you cause to someone else or property damage.

The three main reasons you need home insurance is to:

  • Repair your home structure if damaged
  • Repair or replace personal items
  • Cover liability for anyone injured or property damaged in your home

Types of Homeowners Insurance

You get various forms of protection with home insurance depending on what you’d like to cover. Some will offer more coverage than others. Therefore, you must know the difference as you look for home insurance.

Here we’ll look at the two most common coverages.

HO-3 insurance

It is the most common form of homeowners insurance and is a must-have if you have a mortgage. It covers any damage to your home from any cause except what the policy specifically excludes. Usually, floods and earthquakes are exceptions.

For personal belongings, homeowners insurance has 16 named perils that it will cover unless you purchase additional coverage.

HO-5 Insurance

This policy has extensive coverage than HO-3. It protects you against all causes except for those excluded in the policy.

This policy is offered under different forms by various insurers. You, therefore, need to talk to our agents at Agency Advantage Insurance for more information about this coverage.

Choose Your Home Insurance Policy Today

Before purchasing homeowners insurance, you need to work with professionals who understand what various policies cover. A home is your biggest investment, and it deserves the best protection.

For homeowners in West Bloomfield, MI, reach out to us for more information regarding this coverage.

What You Need to Know About Classic Car Insurance

Classic cars are a great hobby and a great investment. Some people even feel that their classic car hobby is helping to preserve a part of history. To make the most of your classic car investments, it is important that your vehicles be properly insured. At Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield MI we understand that in order to make the best insurance choices, you need the best insurance information. Keep reading to find out what you need to know about classic car insurance.

Isn’t Regular Auto Insurance Enough?

Although it is possible to cover your classic cars with a regular automobile policy, the truth is that a regular auto policy will not truly protect the investment you have made into your classic car. Regular automobiles are not valued the same way as a classic car would be. An automobile policy is based on the usual method of determining value. Classic cars need to be evaluated on an individual basis. This will entail documenting how much money was invested into the car and what the car would value to other classic car dealers. 

How Much Coverage Do I Need?

Because each classic car is very different, there is no one size fits all policy. This is why classic car insurance is done on an individual basis. The best way to determine how much insurance you need will be to sit down with a knowledgeable insurance representative to discuss your particular car. Our team will be able to help you value your car accurately to make sure the insurance coverage is sufficient. 

If you would like to learn more about classic car insurance, or any of our other insurance products, please contact our office at Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI. We will be happy to answer your questions today.